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New Orleans Film Festival issues call for entries for its 2013 fest

new orleans film festival 2012 opening night at the joy theater.jpg

The New Orleans Film Festival kicked off its 2012 edition on Oct. 11 with the premiere of the locally shot crime drama 'The Paperboy' at the renovated Joy Theater on Canal Street.
(Photo by Mike Scott / The Times-Picayune)

The New Orleans Film Festival might have just put the finishes touches on its 2012 edition, but it's already looking forward to 2013. Festival officials today (Jan. 11) put out a call for entries for the 24th annual film festival, scheduled to run from Oct. 10 to 17.

According to a news release sent out this afternoon, the festival is seeking work completed on or after Jan. 1, 2012, in eight categories: Narrative Features (fiction films that are 40 minutes or longer), Documentary Features (non-fiction films that are 40 minutes or longer), Narrative Shorts (fiction films that are 39 minutes or less), Animated Shorts (projects 39 minutes or less, animated by any means), Experimental Shorts (projects that are 30 minutes or less and explore new and creative uses of film and video, whether in technique, form, or both), Documentary Shorts (non-fiction films that are 39 minutes or less), Louisiana Features (feature films--non-fiction or fiction--made by filmmakers currently living and working in Louisiana), and Louisiana Shorts (short films made by filmmakers currently living and working in Louisiana).

The final submission deadline is June 23, with an extended deadline for Louisiana filmmakers of July 19. Submission fees range from $10 to $80, depending on how early a film is submitted and the length of the film. There are also discounts for students and Louisiana residents. For more information on how to submit a film, visit the website of the New Orleans Film Society, which runs the festival.

All categories are juried, and all come with prizes for the top films. In addition, audience awards are given in each of the three feature categories. The total value of awards and prizes given out during the 2012 festival exceeded $70,000 and included camera packages, film stock, cash prizes, and software.

The 2012 festival saw the largest number of submissions in the festival's history -- around 1,250 - with 175 filmmakers attending and 17,000 attendees. Festival organizers said they "fully expect this year's submissions pool to eclipse" last year's numbers.

"We have seen steady growth in the number of entries over the past several years," said Clint Bowie, the festival's program director. "The festival has positioned itself as one of the major stops on the regional film festival circuit, and I think filmmakers and film industry reps are really taking notice."

Festival executive director Jolene Pinder added: "We are dedicated to nurturing new voices and making our filmmakers feel like they've found a second home here in New Orleans."